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Community‐based early intervention: The Coimbra Project (Portugal)
Author(s) -
Boavida J,
EspeSherwindt M,
Borges L
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
child: care, health and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.832
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1365-2214
pISSN - 0305-1862
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2214.2000.00138.x
Subject(s) - intervention (counseling) , legislation , multidisciplinary approach , nursing , early childhood intervention , medicine , medical education , environmental health , psychology , political science , law
Summary The Coimbra Early Intervention Project was undertaken to develop the first co‐ordinated, multidisciplinary, interagency programme involving health care, education and social services, using existing resources in the community. The programme operates region wide and supports annually about 160 families and children with disabilities or at risk. Thirty‐three per cent of the 601 children served so far had developmental delay, 22% belonged to high‐risk families and 45% had risk factors and disabilities. In spite of difficulties, the programme success has increased awareness of the need to integrate and co‐ordinate multiple community services and to develop legislation for the provision of early intervention services.